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The Wolf in the Whale
The heroic journey of an Inuit shaman and a Viking warrior in an epic tale of survival, love, and clashing gods in the frozen Arctic of 1000 AD.
Born with the soul of a hunter and the language of the gods, Omat is destined to become a shaman like her grandfather. To protect her people, she invokes the spirits of the sky, the sea, and the air.
But the gods have stopped listening, the seals won't come, and Omat's family is starving.
Desperate to save them, Omat journeys through the icy wastes, fighting for survival with every step. When she meets a Viking warrior and his strange new gods, together they set in motion a conflict that could shatter her world...or save it.
The Wolf in the Whale is a powerful tale of magic, discovery and adventure, featuring an unforgettable narrator ready to confront the gods themselves.
Born with the soul of a hunter and the language of the gods, Omat is destined to become a shaman like her grandfather. To protect her people, she invokes the spirits of the sky, the sea, and the air.
But the gods have stopped listening, the seals won't come, and Omat's family is starving.
Desperate to save them, Omat journeys through the icy wastes, fighting for survival with every step. When she meets a Viking warrior and his strange new gods, together they set in motion a conflict that could shatter her world...or save it.
The Wolf in the Whale is a powerful tale of magic, discovery and adventure, featuring an unforgettable narrator ready to confront the gods themselves.
562 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
948 people are currently reading
20405 people want to read
About the author
Jordanna Max Brodsky
4 books725 followersJordanna Max Brodsky hails from Virginia. She holds a degree in History and Literature from Harvard University. She lives in Manhattan with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 965 reviews
September 2, 2019
In the book club I moderate, I've asked people on occasion to think of authors who write about colonialism from the perspective of a non-colonial power. This book is a great example of why "being against a colonial power" is not the same thing as what I'm looking for. This book for me didn't quite work. I loved the mythology, but I don't think the author grappled with the concepts in a way that honored the people whose stories she was telling. And a hearty apology to my friends who loved this, I understand that I am extremely sensitive to these topics and therefore was likely to trip up no matter how great the story!
CONTENT WARNING: (just a list of topics)
Things I loved:
-The prologue. I thought the writing was beautiful and that it really set the scene for the desolation of the far north in winter.
-Inuit mythology. It was so cool to see more about a less-known set of folklores and cultural practices.
Things I think weren't respectful:
-Gender politics. Okay. So. Gender is a sticky wicket and so personal, I can't say for sure this isn't a good representation. I do have a big problem, however, with people intentionally misgendering someone to belittle or threaten them, someone only feeling like a woman when they're violated or giving birth, and what felt to me the author's intrusion into the character that seemed to suggest if you have a vagina and breasts you are de facto more woman than man. We see this too in how many times the character asserts their manhood and yet in narration talks of themself as being a woman. "The men all went hunting." Do you talk about a group you belong to like that? If I say "the ladies are going out," I am included in that, because I am one, too. I could also have done without the constant put downs on womanhood. "I'm not just a woman, I'm more than a woman." Well, fuck you too, thanks. Glad to know that we are valued, at least so that we can be the poor man's gender. Yay for internalized patriarchy.
-Response to trauma. I did not feel like any of the things that happened to these characters were thought through. They just...happened. And then would be brought up again only, it seems, to be useful in deciding how manly or womanly a person is. I love books that explore gender, but I really must protest the idea that a woman is defined by the ways she can be violated, as if men cannot also be violated and as if gender is irrelevant except as a means of power. There were a lot of heavy moments in this book and I feel like they were allowed to float when we should have let them sink in.
-Colonial POV. I could not forget that this author was not of the culture nor the gender of the main character. Everything is still portrayed in eurocentric way. Omat is "short, dark, ugly." Brandr is "tall, fiery, gentle yet fierce, handsome" etc. The Inuit gods are bad guys in Norse mythology. Omat is completely astounded by woven cloth, despite research showing that northern First Nations people did in fact have cloth, and even if they didn't at this time, they still knew what weaving was--they had baskets and boots and other things that used a similar technique even if it was with different fibers. They weren't benighted savages. Regarding gender, the Inuit people, and indeed almost all native/First Nations people in North America, had/have an understanding and respect for gender outside of the binary. It was an honored role, not something someone would think to use to attack someone. So the misgendering, inflexible mindsets, and constant return to use of the binary again feels like the author didn't really seek out any Two Spirit people or indeed, have any set gender identity in mind for their character, explaining them all sorts of different ways that managed to make me wince every time.
-The love story. It felt shoehorned in and awkward. Also? I'm sorry but Brandr can eff right off. Why am I wishing for him to have a happy ending? (real spoiler)
I know I'm in the minority here, and I don't want to take things that have made others feel. But I personally didn't see anyone that felt like someone I could recognize, and the moments of their lives we shared in felt contrived and, well, written by someone who claimed a story that was not hers to tell. I would have needed a lot more research and examination to have this land well.
CONTENT WARNING: (just a list of topics)
Things I loved:
-The prologue. I thought the writing was beautiful and that it really set the scene for the desolation of the far north in winter.
-Inuit mythology. It was so cool to see more about a less-known set of folklores and cultural practices.
Things I think weren't respectful:
-Gender politics. Okay. So. Gender is a sticky wicket and so personal, I can't say for sure this isn't a good representation. I do have a big problem, however, with people intentionally misgendering someone to belittle or threaten them, someone only feeling like a woman when they're violated or giving birth, and what felt to me the author's intrusion into the character that seemed to suggest if you have a vagina and breasts you are de facto more woman than man. We see this too in how many times the character asserts their manhood and yet in narration talks of themself as being a woman. "The men all went hunting." Do you talk about a group you belong to like that? If I say "the ladies are going out," I am included in that, because I am one, too. I could also have done without the constant put downs on womanhood. "I'm not just a woman, I'm more than a woman." Well, fuck you too, thanks. Glad to know that we are valued, at least so that we can be the poor man's gender. Yay for internalized patriarchy.
-Response to trauma. I did not feel like any of the things that happened to these characters were thought through. They just...happened. And then would be brought up again only, it seems, to be useful in deciding how manly or womanly a person is. I love books that explore gender, but I really must protest the idea that a woman is defined by the ways she can be violated, as if men cannot also be violated and as if gender is irrelevant except as a means of power. There were a lot of heavy moments in this book and I feel like they were allowed to float when we should have let them sink in.
-Colonial POV. I could not forget that this author was not of the culture nor the gender of the main character. Everything is still portrayed in eurocentric way. Omat is "short, dark, ugly." Brandr is "tall, fiery, gentle yet fierce, handsome" etc. The Inuit gods are bad guys in Norse mythology. Omat is completely astounded by woven cloth, despite research showing that northern First Nations people did in fact have cloth, and even if they didn't at this time, they still knew what weaving was--they had baskets and boots and other things that used a similar technique even if it was with different fibers. They weren't benighted savages. Regarding gender, the Inuit people, and indeed almost all native/First Nations people in North America, had/have an understanding and respect for gender outside of the binary. It was an honored role, not something someone would think to use to attack someone. So the misgendering, inflexible mindsets, and constant return to use of the binary again feels like the author didn't really seek out any Two Spirit people or indeed, have any set gender identity in mind for their character, explaining them all sorts of different ways that managed to make me wince every time.
-The love story. It felt shoehorned in and awkward. Also? I'm sorry but Brandr can eff right off. Why am I wishing for him to have a happy ending? (real spoiler)
I know I'm in the minority here, and I don't want to take things that have made others feel. But I personally didn't see anyone that felt like someone I could recognize, and the moments of their lives we shared in felt contrived and, well, written by someone who claimed a story that was not hers to tell. I would have needed a lot more research and examination to have this land well.
February 15, 2019
‘I am no longer scared of being a woman — it doesn’t make me any less a man. I am both. I am neither. I am only myself.’
🐺
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky is the story of a young Inuit shaman, living on the edge of the world, trying survive in a devastatingly hostile environment. WOW! This was one powerful, dark, atmospheric but absolutely beautiful read, and one I fell in love with instantly.
🐺
The world building in this book was incredible, I could really appreciate the amount of research that was shown here. The barren landscape of the Arctic was so well described, and I loved the inclusion of the animals found there, most of all the WOLVES!! Brodsky’s prose was a real pleasure to read. She fantastically weaved together so much culture and mythology, and spiced it all with such a melancholic tone, which really made me feel for the main character, Omat. A word of warning; there are definitely some dark scenes in this, but I felt that they were needed and were not written for merely shock value, or filler. Every scene just portrayed how threatening life was.
🐺
I adored the two main characters, Omat and Brandr. Through Omat we explore gender and identity. In Inuit culture there were traditional male roles and female roles; for either gender to not conform to these roles would be seen as breaking an ‘agliruti’ (a taboo). As Omat is born in a female body but has the spirit of a man inside her, she is raised as a man; she participates in hunting, usually a male role. In a way this is a coming of age tale as we see Omat trying to grow and find a balance between her womanly body and her male spirit, and how she can use both and be comfortable with her own identity. I just loved her, she had so much strength!
🐺
Through Brandr, we see he shares a similar struggle with himself. Being part of a Viking clan, a culture that thrives on war and destruction, and wanting very little part in it all, made his character so interesting. Brandr is not perfect, he’s done some terrible things, but to see him try to come to terms with his past was really quite emotional.
🐺
My favourite scenes were definitely where the mythology of Inuits and Vikings played a heavy part. The ‘angakkuq’ (shaman) of the Inuit tribe could invoke Spirit animals, speak to them and transform into spirit animals themselves. There were Moon, Sun, Air and Sea gods that the Inuit’s worshiped, their stories were so fascinating. Then we had VIKING GODS too, such as Odin, Thor, Freya and Loki! I adored how Brodsky brought these cultures together, it made for one fantastic ending!
🐺
I believe that the main theme of this book reflected on the power of storytelling and the power of belief. Once we learn to believe in ourselves, believe in our inner strength and shape our own story that’s when we are truly free, and that’s what I loved about this book.
Thank you to Orbit for providing me a free copy in exchange for a honest review. The Wolf in the Whale is published in the UK on 31st January 2019, so it’s out now!!
🐺
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky is the story of a young Inuit shaman, living on the edge of the world, trying survive in a devastatingly hostile environment. WOW! This was one powerful, dark, atmospheric but absolutely beautiful read, and one I fell in love with instantly.
🐺
The world building in this book was incredible, I could really appreciate the amount of research that was shown here. The barren landscape of the Arctic was so well described, and I loved the inclusion of the animals found there, most of all the WOLVES!! Brodsky’s prose was a real pleasure to read. She fantastically weaved together so much culture and mythology, and spiced it all with such a melancholic tone, which really made me feel for the main character, Omat. A word of warning; there are definitely some dark scenes in this, but I felt that they were needed and were not written for merely shock value, or filler. Every scene just portrayed how threatening life was.
🐺
I adored the two main characters, Omat and Brandr. Through Omat we explore gender and identity. In Inuit culture there were traditional male roles and female roles; for either gender to not conform to these roles would be seen as breaking an ‘agliruti’ (a taboo). As Omat is born in a female body but has the spirit of a man inside her, she is raised as a man; she participates in hunting, usually a male role. In a way this is a coming of age tale as we see Omat trying to grow and find a balance between her womanly body and her male spirit, and how she can use both and be comfortable with her own identity. I just loved her, she had so much strength!
🐺
Through Brandr, we see he shares a similar struggle with himself. Being part of a Viking clan, a culture that thrives on war and destruction, and wanting very little part in it all, made his character so interesting. Brandr is not perfect, he’s done some terrible things, but to see him try to come to terms with his past was really quite emotional.
🐺
My favourite scenes were definitely where the mythology of Inuits and Vikings played a heavy part. The ‘angakkuq’ (shaman) of the Inuit tribe could invoke Spirit animals, speak to them and transform into spirit animals themselves. There were Moon, Sun, Air and Sea gods that the Inuit’s worshiped, their stories were so fascinating. Then we had VIKING GODS too, such as Odin, Thor, Freya and Loki! I adored how Brodsky brought these cultures together, it made for one fantastic ending!
🐺
I believe that the main theme of this book reflected on the power of storytelling and the power of belief. Once we learn to believe in ourselves, believe in our inner strength and shape our own story that’s when we are truly free, and that’s what I loved about this book.
Thank you to Orbit for providing me a free copy in exchange for a honest review. The Wolf in the Whale is published in the UK on 31st January 2019, so it’s out now!!
August 24, 2019
“Why would I continue life as a man trapped in a girl’s body when I could just as easily fly into the heavens or run with the wolves?”
Imagine a world so breathtakingly beautiful and dangerous, so hard and cold and brutal, yet bristling with colors that will never be brighter and enormous landscapes unmarked by the will of humankind. In this world, every step could be your last, and every breath is spent in the fight for survival.
I must praise Brodsky on her inimitable style and writing techniques that really make this book shine. There's one aspect in particular I'm referring to and it's the bold and heartbreaking moves that I believe really work to this book's advantage. Brodsky wrote this book in such a unique and powerful way that really strengthens the storyline and our connection to the characters. I wish I could say more, but I'll leave it at this. The way Brodsky tells the story feels more personal, and it allows Omat to draw more conclusions, think more clearly on past events and how she felt at the time and what she was thinking etc..
Omat was born with a man's spirit in a woman’s body. When she took her father's name, Omat, she also inherited his spirit and is raised as he had been. The main character is even called Little Son by her father who is technically her grandfather, she’s confused on why she’s not growing facial hair like the young men around her. She always believed she’d become a great hunter, take a wife, and father children. No one ever questioned her maleness until well, a certain scene in this book. I will go no farther.
But this makes her question everything she believed in. Including becoming the strong shaman for her people.
Now that statement brings in our magic system and I don’t even like calling it that because it’s so incredibly spiritual and moving but it centers around animal transformations and Gods. To become a shaman which grants you that power, Omat must go on a treacherous journey to find her spirit guide. Now there is one rule you must follow with this responsibility and that is you must save your powers for the most direst circumstances.
Unfortunately the spirits have stopped listening and have different plans for her.
World mythologies can be tricky, in my opinion. They're alive, well-known, interesting by themselves. Choosing to use them as a retelling can become a boomerang in the hands of an incompetent author. Naturally, this isn't the case here. Brodsky takes the Norse and Inuit legends and transforms them into a beautiful and poetic story in a vast cold and brutal landscape. Stakes are risen at every turn and you will find yourself flipping the pages and wanting more in the end. This is a FANTASTIC novel and I am proud to display this on my favorites shelf.
Imagine a world so breathtakingly beautiful and dangerous, so hard and cold and brutal, yet bristling with colors that will never be brighter and enormous landscapes unmarked by the will of humankind. In this world, every step could be your last, and every breath is spent in the fight for survival.
I must praise Brodsky on her inimitable style and writing techniques that really make this book shine. There's one aspect in particular I'm referring to and it's the bold and heartbreaking moves that I believe really work to this book's advantage. Brodsky wrote this book in such a unique and powerful way that really strengthens the storyline and our connection to the characters. I wish I could say more, but I'll leave it at this. The way Brodsky tells the story feels more personal, and it allows Omat to draw more conclusions, think more clearly on past events and how she felt at the time and what she was thinking etc..
Omat was born with a man's spirit in a woman’s body. When she took her father's name, Omat, she also inherited his spirit and is raised as he had been. The main character is even called Little Son by her father who is technically her grandfather, she’s confused on why she’s not growing facial hair like the young men around her. She always believed she’d become a great hunter, take a wife, and father children. No one ever questioned her maleness until well, a certain scene in this book. I will go no farther.
But this makes her question everything she believed in. Including becoming the strong shaman for her people.
Now that statement brings in our magic system and I don’t even like calling it that because it’s so incredibly spiritual and moving but it centers around animal transformations and Gods. To become a shaman which grants you that power, Omat must go on a treacherous journey to find her spirit guide. Now there is one rule you must follow with this responsibility and that is you must save your powers for the most direst circumstances.
Unfortunately the spirits have stopped listening and have different plans for her.
World mythologies can be tricky, in my opinion. They're alive, well-known, interesting by themselves. Choosing to use them as a retelling can become a boomerang in the hands of an incompetent author. Naturally, this isn't the case here. Brodsky takes the Norse and Inuit legends and transforms them into a beautiful and poetic story in a vast cold and brutal landscape. Stakes are risen at every turn and you will find yourself flipping the pages and wanting more in the end. This is a FANTASTIC novel and I am proud to display this on my favorites shelf.
January 29, 2019
5 of 5 star at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/29/...
I expected to enjoy The Wolf and the Whale, but what I was not prepared for was how completely it swept me off my feet. In this stunning masterpiece, Jordanna Max Brodsky weaves a cinematic tale of adventure and survival, blending history, mythology and timeless romance. All of this is set to the epic backdrop of the Arctic wilderness at a time of great change towards the end of the first millennium.
Our story follows Omat, a young Inuit girl born into her tribe during a time of tragedy. But in death, her father gave his daughter his strong hunter’s soul, and the spirits sent the Wolf to watch over the child so that she would survive. Omat’s grandfather, a wise shaman, recognized the gift in her and believed that she was meant to follow in his footsteps, so he raises her as a boy to hunt and protect her people, while also teaching her the ways to commune with the spirits.
However, as Omat grew, some in her group began to question her role, concerned that the spirits are angered by the taboo of a woman hunting. Their people are starving, and with no new children being born, they are slowly dying out. So, when their group happened to come across another Inuit band on the ice one day, Omat and her grandfather thought for certain that their prayers have been answered.
Sadly, they could not have been more wrong. As Omat finds her entire sense of identity unraveling, her life is also now in danger because of the newcomers. But an even greater threat looms on the horizon, in the form of a group of Norse explorers bringing only violence and death. As the gods and spirits of multiple pantheons look on, Omat must find common ground with an unlikely ally and embark on a perilous journey together that will determine the fate of both their peoples.
The Wolf in the Whale is a coming-of-age story unlike any other. It is also about a meeting of two cultures. Told in gorgeously lush prose, this tale unfolds over a number of years, though most of it follows Omat’s life through her young adulthood. Painstakingly researched, as evidenced by the author’s extensive notes on the historical period, the setting was brought to life with incredible attention to detail. Like her first trilogy, Olympus Bound, Brodsky’s new novel perfectly balances myth and reality in an exquisite cocktail of facts and fantastical elements, creating a world infused with magic and folklore. Here you can read about the Norse gods, as well as Inuit traditions of animism and shamanism.
There is also much I would like to say about Omat. This is the story of her struggle to overcome many hardships, some horrific, but she manages to emerge a stronger and more determined person each time. Though her lessons in loss have been huge, they have also shaped her in ways that were fascinating to watch. Readers get to witness her transformation from an overconfident and short-sighted youth to a more levelheaded adult who has come to realize that no fate is set in stone—and one should never take anything, or anyone, for granted.
Omat’s journey was also an exploration into gender roles that I found unexpectedly well-balanced and insightful. Our protagonist begins this tale as a proud, almost arrogant shaman-in-training who revels in her special place in the group, disdaining women’s work and the female body because she believes them to be weak. Raised as a boy in a girl’s body, all Omat wanted was to become a man—until the spirits turned on her and took away her magic, leaving her untethered and her future in doubt. Over the course of this novel, Omat gradually reconciles herself to her new path, learning to appreciate the strength and skills of a woman, ultimately embracing both the masculine and the feminine, because as in all things, life requires balance.
Speaking of which, one of the most significant events in this book is Omat’s meeting with Brandr, a Viking warrior with whom she develops a complex relationship that teaches her more about that balance, as well as how to trust and love. I’m a sucker for stories about disparate strangers from worlds apart who come together and form a deep bond, so it was no wonder that I found myself completely enthralled by these two. Plus, what a delightfully interesting little family they made along with Omat’s three companion wolves; I simply could not get enough of their interactions together.
In short, I think I have my first real contender for my list of best books of 2019. No surprise that it came from the imaginative mind of Jordanna Max Brodsky, who has impressed me before with her stunning prose and expert storytelling. With the courageous Omat at the story’s heart and a beautifully rendered world filled with magic, myth and history, The Wolf in the Whale is a novel that will enchant and captivate fantasy and historical fiction fans alike.
I expected to enjoy The Wolf and the Whale, but what I was not prepared for was how completely it swept me off my feet. In this stunning masterpiece, Jordanna Max Brodsky weaves a cinematic tale of adventure and survival, blending history, mythology and timeless romance. All of this is set to the epic backdrop of the Arctic wilderness at a time of great change towards the end of the first millennium.
Our story follows Omat, a young Inuit girl born into her tribe during a time of tragedy. But in death, her father gave his daughter his strong hunter’s soul, and the spirits sent the Wolf to watch over the child so that she would survive. Omat’s grandfather, a wise shaman, recognized the gift in her and believed that she was meant to follow in his footsteps, so he raises her as a boy to hunt and protect her people, while also teaching her the ways to commune with the spirits.
However, as Omat grew, some in her group began to question her role, concerned that the spirits are angered by the taboo of a woman hunting. Their people are starving, and with no new children being born, they are slowly dying out. So, when their group happened to come across another Inuit band on the ice one day, Omat and her grandfather thought for certain that their prayers have been answered.
Sadly, they could not have been more wrong. As Omat finds her entire sense of identity unraveling, her life is also now in danger because of the newcomers. But an even greater threat looms on the horizon, in the form of a group of Norse explorers bringing only violence and death. As the gods and spirits of multiple pantheons look on, Omat must find common ground with an unlikely ally and embark on a perilous journey together that will determine the fate of both their peoples.
The Wolf in the Whale is a coming-of-age story unlike any other. It is also about a meeting of two cultures. Told in gorgeously lush prose, this tale unfolds over a number of years, though most of it follows Omat’s life through her young adulthood. Painstakingly researched, as evidenced by the author’s extensive notes on the historical period, the setting was brought to life with incredible attention to detail. Like her first trilogy, Olympus Bound, Brodsky’s new novel perfectly balances myth and reality in an exquisite cocktail of facts and fantastical elements, creating a world infused with magic and folklore. Here you can read about the Norse gods, as well as Inuit traditions of animism and shamanism.
There is also much I would like to say about Omat. This is the story of her struggle to overcome many hardships, some horrific, but she manages to emerge a stronger and more determined person each time. Though her lessons in loss have been huge, they have also shaped her in ways that were fascinating to watch. Readers get to witness her transformation from an overconfident and short-sighted youth to a more levelheaded adult who has come to realize that no fate is set in stone—and one should never take anything, or anyone, for granted.
Omat’s journey was also an exploration into gender roles that I found unexpectedly well-balanced and insightful. Our protagonist begins this tale as a proud, almost arrogant shaman-in-training who revels in her special place in the group, disdaining women’s work and the female body because she believes them to be weak. Raised as a boy in a girl’s body, all Omat wanted was to become a man—until the spirits turned on her and took away her magic, leaving her untethered and her future in doubt. Over the course of this novel, Omat gradually reconciles herself to her new path, learning to appreciate the strength and skills of a woman, ultimately embracing both the masculine and the feminine, because as in all things, life requires balance.
Speaking of which, one of the most significant events in this book is Omat’s meeting with Brandr, a Viking warrior with whom she develops a complex relationship that teaches her more about that balance, as well as how to trust and love. I’m a sucker for stories about disparate strangers from worlds apart who come together and form a deep bond, so it was no wonder that I found myself completely enthralled by these two. Plus, what a delightfully interesting little family they made along with Omat’s three companion wolves; I simply could not get enough of their interactions together.
In short, I think I have my first real contender for my list of best books of 2019. No surprise that it came from the imaginative mind of Jordanna Max Brodsky, who has impressed me before with her stunning prose and expert storytelling. With the courageous Omat at the story’s heart and a beautifully rendered world filled with magic, myth and history, The Wolf in the Whale is a novel that will enchant and captivate fantasy and historical fiction fans alike.
April 18, 2021
4.5**** and might round up to 5***** later.
I absolutely loved the blend of Inuit and Norse mythology in this book, as well as the amazing character of Omat.
I absolutely loved the blend of Inuit and Norse mythology in this book, as well as the amazing character of Omat.
February 17, 2019
“Birth and death, we are torn apart and recreated.”Loss, love, trauma, survival, spirituality, power, war, identity...the above quote can be seen in all of these elements as experienced by the main character Omat, an Inuit shaman.
Spoiler contains my spin on the book synopsis.
Jordanna Max Brodsky takes readers on a cultural and mythological journey through the Arctic in 1000AD. The amount of research that must have went into this novel is stunning. The spiritual beliefs of the ancient Inuit people create a fantastical element which was one of my favorite parts. The writing and world-building are both incredibly well-done, and the author uses extinct customs to discuss alive and well gender issues in such a palpable way.
“I am no longer scared of being a woman — it doesn’t make me any less a man. I am both. I am neither. I am only myself.”I absolutely loved this book. With nearly 550 pages (18 1/2 hours via audio), I was never bored once. Every element blends together to create a learning opportunity that is just as immersive as it is entertaining. There are some tough scenes to read counteracted by lovely moments just as intense. I would read this book again in a heartbeat. Check it out.
Note: In the author's interview with Fictitious Podcast she indicated one of her most important goals in writing this book was to change the reader's conception of the story of European colonization of the new worlds. She stated that the stories we hear are almost always from the European point of view which most always result with them winning in the end. But this is a historically accurate story where the indigenous people won and many people have never heard it. Thus she wanted readers to be submersed into the Inuit's culture and society, because this time, the story is told from their point of view. So if you feel this book has a slow start, there's a reason. Learn, embrace, and hang on. It's worth it!
September 22, 2019
I approached this novel with a great amount of hope; I was very happy to encounter a narrative that embraced and explored the culture and people and mythology and magic of an Inuit settlement, and for much of the first third or so of the novel, those details sustained my interest and affection.
But then the plot accelerates and it leaves the textured moments behind, and begins featuring far too many cartoonishly evil villains, entirely too much speechifying, and an utter lack of internal character logic. Our narrator, Omat, gets flung from one desperate situation into another, and the more the novel wore on, the less I felt for and with Omat.
I’ve said this before about other fantasy novels I’ve read in the last year that feature settings and themes and mythologies that go far beyond the historically typical Eurocentric tropes that have been so predominate: I welcome this trend of editors and publishers giving much-needed space and support to this generation of writers as they breathe new life into the genre. I just wish these books were better.
This novel was a well-intentioned mess, in the end, for me.
But then the plot accelerates and it leaves the textured moments behind, and begins featuring far too many cartoonishly evil villains, entirely too much speechifying, and an utter lack of internal character logic. Our narrator, Omat, gets flung from one desperate situation into another, and the more the novel wore on, the less I felt for and with Omat.
I’ve said this before about other fantasy novels I’ve read in the last year that feature settings and themes and mythologies that go far beyond the historically typical Eurocentric tropes that have been so predominate: I welcome this trend of editors and publishers giving much-needed space and support to this generation of writers as they breathe new life into the genre. I just wish these books were better.
This novel was a well-intentioned mess, in the end, for me.
August 1, 2019
The Wolf in the Whale is $2.99 in the US Kindle Store today! April 1, 2019
This is the book I feel like I have been waiting for since this terrible reading slump hit back in October. I really just needed something to sweep me away- to make me care, to give me a reason to stay curled up on the couch all day and read. It has been a really long time since I read a 500+ page book in a 24 hour period. It was impossible to put down.
This is the story of Omat, an Inuit two-spirit shaman living around 1000 AD, and what happens when his world collides with the world of gods and vikings. It was part survival story, part romance, and part spiritual journey. Extremely rich in mythology and folklore and heavy on the magical realism.
I'm not sure what pronoun is quite correct to use for Omat- so I'm going to stick with 'he' because I believe that would be the preferred pronoun. We start with Omat's miraculous birth, and within the first 20 pages Brodsky had brought me to tears twice. Omat's tribe is very, very small, and at the time of his birth, the tribe had just lost most of their hunters. From page one- the stakes already felt extremely high, and continued to remain so throughout the book.
Omat's grandfather is the tribe's angakkuq (shaman), and he recognizes when Omat is born that his powers are already greater than his own, so Omat begins training to take his place. This allowed for a lot of the mythology and the folklore to unfold in what I felt were natural ways. Nothing ever felt like an out of place infodump, or that it was being explained to me for the sake of knowledge alone.
Aside from the mythology and folklore the history itself felt very rich. The reader is given a lot of insight into tools and hunting practices they might have used, the way igloos are built and how they traveled across the land, various social customs, etc.. Again- it was never something that felt dry or unnecessary, and though I myself am no expert in Inuit history, I would wager that Brodsky's research was very thorough.
The romance was my absolute favorite part of this book. (Spoilers ahead.) Omat being two-spirited brought an added barrier to their relationship. His attraction to Brandr is obvious to the reader from the first moment they meet, but Omat, struggling with the female part of his identity, does not want Brandr to think he is anything but a man. Brandr on the other hand, is struggling with a lot of his own demons, and feelings of general unworthiness. I loved everything about this pair from the moment they met. I loved the obstacles they had to overcome to get from unlikely allies to friends and eventually lovers. I loved that they both had their own identities to grapple with before they could ever find acceptance in the other person. This romance is epic on the scale of Outlander.
I do want to comment about the content. This is a survival story. And more than that it is a survival story in the Artic where food is scarce and hunger is common. There is a lot of hunting and killing of animals and it's animals that I think we generally frown upon killing today like seals and whales. It's always done respectfully but it can be hard to read if your sensitive to that. Other content warnings:
The writing was wonderful and an excellent complement to the setting itself. You could feel the biting wind and the frost in your face, the pangs of hunger from subsisting on meager meals, the feeling of fullness from that first real meal eaten in days. I was reminded a lot of the atmospheric writing in The Bear and the Nightingale, though the books themselves have little in common.
If I had to criticize one thing- it would be the climax of the story. Major spoilers:
I loved this book enough that I will probably buy a hard copy to keep forever. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Inuit and Norse history and mythology.
This is the book I feel like I have been waiting for since this terrible reading slump hit back in October. I really just needed something to sweep me away- to make me care, to give me a reason to stay curled up on the couch all day and read. It has been a really long time since I read a 500+ page book in a 24 hour period. It was impossible to put down.
This is the story of Omat, an Inuit two-spirit shaman living around 1000 AD, and what happens when his world collides with the world of gods and vikings. It was part survival story, part romance, and part spiritual journey. Extremely rich in mythology and folklore and heavy on the magical realism.
I'm not sure what pronoun is quite correct to use for Omat- so I'm going to stick with 'he' because I believe that would be the preferred pronoun. We start with Omat's miraculous birth, and within the first 20 pages Brodsky had brought me to tears twice. Omat's tribe is very, very small, and at the time of his birth, the tribe had just lost most of their hunters. From page one- the stakes already felt extremely high, and continued to remain so throughout the book.
Omat's grandfather is the tribe's angakkuq (shaman), and he recognizes when Omat is born that his powers are already greater than his own, so Omat begins training to take his place. This allowed for a lot of the mythology and the folklore to unfold in what I felt were natural ways. Nothing ever felt like an out of place infodump, or that it was being explained to me for the sake of knowledge alone.
Aside from the mythology and folklore the history itself felt very rich. The reader is given a lot of insight into tools and hunting practices they might have used, the way igloos are built and how they traveled across the land, various social customs, etc.. Again- it was never something that felt dry or unnecessary, and though I myself am no expert in Inuit history, I would wager that Brodsky's research was very thorough.
The romance was my absolute favorite part of this book. (Spoilers ahead.) Omat being two-spirited brought an added barrier to their relationship. His attraction to Brandr is obvious to the reader from the first moment they meet, but Omat, struggling with the female part of his identity, does not want Brandr to think he is anything but a man. Brandr on the other hand, is struggling with a lot of his own demons, and feelings of general unworthiness. I loved everything about this pair from the moment they met. I loved the obstacles they had to overcome to get from unlikely allies to friends and eventually lovers. I loved that they both had their own identities to grapple with before they could ever find acceptance in the other person. This romance is epic on the scale of Outlander.
I do want to comment about the content. This is a survival story. And more than that it is a survival story in the Artic where food is scarce and hunger is common. There is a lot of hunting and killing of animals and it's animals that I think we generally frown upon killing today like seals and whales. It's always done respectfully but it can be hard to read if your sensitive to that. Other content warnings:
The writing was wonderful and an excellent complement to the setting itself. You could feel the biting wind and the frost in your face, the pangs of hunger from subsisting on meager meals, the feeling of fullness from that first real meal eaten in days. I was reminded a lot of the atmospheric writing in The Bear and the Nightingale, though the books themselves have little in common.
If I had to criticize one thing- it would be the climax of the story. Major spoilers:
I loved this book enough that I will probably buy a hard copy to keep forever. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Inuit and Norse history and mythology.
Read
February 9, 2019This is a very different take on fantasy, I’ve never read anything from the perspective of the Inuit people so I was pretty excited about it going in.
This is a single POV book (I think, I DNF’d) about a girl growing up in a very remote Inuit clan. They are far removed from everyone else and are struggling to make it by, every decision they make can have long-lasting impacts on their group as a whole. One wrong move could be disastrous, and losing members of their clan when their numbers are so few is devastating. They are a close-knit but very pragmatic sort of people. What needs to be done gets done or face extinction. They live in close quarters so things like nudity, sex, sharing partners and all of that are very out in the open and not a big deal. There are strict rules on what men and women can’t do with rigid adherence to gender roles. This makes things complicated for our main character. She was something of a miracle child, when she was born she was barely breathing, it was a difficult birth and her mother died shortly thereafter. She was left out in the snow overnight, assumed to be too weak to live anyway. However, the next morning she was found alive, and it was presumed that her dead father’s soul came to inhabit her body, that she was blessed by a wolf that stayed by her side after she was abandoned and breathed life into her. Since she carried her father’s soul, she was to be raised as a man. She would be allowed to hunt (a huge taboo for a woman) and treated just like all the other boys. However, as a teenager, she found out that she was, in fact, a woman. It was a huge blow and a traumatic event. She vowed never to bleed or take a husband, but things took a turn for the worse when another band of Inuit show up and wreak havoc in her world.
There was a lot of very organic world building in this, the first 30% or so was largely focused on character development and the lore of the world told through songs and stories Omat’s grandfather would tell. He’s an Ongakgook, a shaman of sorts, who is able to commune with the spirits and speak with the animals. The Ongakgook’s other main role is keeping the stories and the lore of their people alive through song. Omat was training to be the next Ongakgook since she was able to speak to a caribou without any sort of training. There are a lot of references to the ancestors, stories about how the gods came into being, and stories of spirits and guides. I found all of that to be fascinating and was really trying to get into the book, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.
This book was a struggle for me despite it being on audiobooks. I’m just not that into hunting scenes – I tolerate them at best when they are used sparingly. I can’t help myself, I cringe when I see animals get hurt or killed, even if the rational side of me is saying “this is essential for them to live”, it’s just a gut response. The first 30% of the book was dominated by hunting scenes and small talk amongst villagers. When the outsiders made it into the story the plot did pick up a bit, but there was still lots of hunting, lots of traveling around in snow covered wastelands and I just got bored and kind of grossed out. There’s an off screen rape of the main character and I’m just not into it. I do believe it was handled well, I felt the right kind of angry when I read it. However, I’ve read 11 books so far this year, and 9 of them have had rape in it. I’m just not able to stomach any more of it right now. So, I made it to about 40% before I called it quits, this is sort of an “it’s not you, it’s me” break up. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s certainly a very different kind of book, and if it sounds interesting to you I’d say give it a chance.
This is a single POV book (I think, I DNF’d) about a girl growing up in a very remote Inuit clan. They are far removed from everyone else and are struggling to make it by, every decision they make can have long-lasting impacts on their group as a whole. One wrong move could be disastrous, and losing members of their clan when their numbers are so few is devastating. They are a close-knit but very pragmatic sort of people. What needs to be done gets done or face extinction. They live in close quarters so things like nudity, sex, sharing partners and all of that are very out in the open and not a big deal. There are strict rules on what men and women can’t do with rigid adherence to gender roles. This makes things complicated for our main character. She was something of a miracle child, when she was born she was barely breathing, it was a difficult birth and her mother died shortly thereafter. She was left out in the snow overnight, assumed to be too weak to live anyway. However, the next morning she was found alive, and it was presumed that her dead father’s soul came to inhabit her body, that she was blessed by a wolf that stayed by her side after she was abandoned and breathed life into her. Since she carried her father’s soul, she was to be raised as a man. She would be allowed to hunt (a huge taboo for a woman) and treated just like all the other boys. However, as a teenager, she found out that she was, in fact, a woman. It was a huge blow and a traumatic event. She vowed never to bleed or take a husband, but things took a turn for the worse when another band of Inuit show up and wreak havoc in her world.
There was a lot of very organic world building in this, the first 30% or so was largely focused on character development and the lore of the world told through songs and stories Omat’s grandfather would tell. He’s an Ongakgook, a shaman of sorts, who is able to commune with the spirits and speak with the animals. The Ongakgook’s other main role is keeping the stories and the lore of their people alive through song. Omat was training to be the next Ongakgook since she was able to speak to a caribou without any sort of training. There are a lot of references to the ancestors, stories about how the gods came into being, and stories of spirits and guides. I found all of that to be fascinating and was really trying to get into the book, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.
This book was a struggle for me despite it being on audiobooks. I’m just not that into hunting scenes – I tolerate them at best when they are used sparingly. I can’t help myself, I cringe when I see animals get hurt or killed, even if the rational side of me is saying “this is essential for them to live”, it’s just a gut response. The first 30% of the book was dominated by hunting scenes and small talk amongst villagers. When the outsiders made it into the story the plot did pick up a bit, but there was still lots of hunting, lots of traveling around in snow covered wastelands and I just got bored and kind of grossed out. There’s an off screen rape of the main character and I’m just not into it. I do believe it was handled well, I felt the right kind of angry when I read it. However, I’ve read 11 books so far this year, and 9 of them have had rape in it. I’m just not able to stomach any more of it right now. So, I made it to about 40% before I called it quits, this is sort of an “it’s not you, it’s me” break up. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s certainly a very different kind of book, and if it sounds interesting to you I’d say give it a chance.
January 4, 2019
You should read this book. In fact, don’t even bother with my review, spend that few minutes getting the book instead and then reading it! Ciao!
…
OK, you’re still here :) Need more convincing? Not a problem! Well, first of all, I would like to say that this book is quite ‘dark’ in nature. I mean, literally, the Sun disappears for quite a while far up in the North… but… If you’re sensitive to the more cruel side of life and nature then you won’t manage to handle it in places. People (old and young) and animals (furry, fluffy and feathered) die in this book. You’re warned! It does get occasionally very grim!
But…
On the other hand, this book is structured perfectly around its historical, mythological Inuit/Viking theme where the plot takes us on a journey from the very beginning to the end… like one big circle… You’re born, you live, you die and you’re born again… that kind of way awesome! And every part of this journey is important! The Inuit way of life- so natural and common sense and down to earth and even a bit otherworldly as it tiptoes to the spiritual side; with its stories of spirits- well, I was left positively breathless. This book is everything! I definitely read myself into 2019 with a masterpiece that now sits firmly as my favourite for decades to come!
I even read all of the author’s notes in the end where she explains the research and work and effort that has gone into this book over a decade and I just want to… I don’t know, erect a monument for Jordanna! Yes, she has taken some artistic license with the historical facts, culture and mythology but she knows it, admits it and points it out, and as far as a fictional work- I think Jordanna has done herself well proud here.
This story is about Omat… about her birth and how she inherits her fathers soul and how her grandfather raises her as a boy to become a man and an angakkuq (shaman). And what a story this is! Spanning many years of Omat’s life. All these years of life that fit within them the challenges she faces with her own people being who she is, the challenges she faces when she meets threatening strangers (Norse vikings) and the challenges she faces when the gods interfere!
I was apprehensive throughout this book… With the inclusion of Norse mythology (Thor, Odin, Loki, etc) alongside Inuit beliefs and culture, the clash and contrast in between the 2 were striking. The implications of new people arriving to new lands bringing their own religion, perhaps even the desert walking Christ, were setting the whole story up for doom and I couldn’t wait to see what kind of solutions Omat brought to the table in order to save her own people. The whole story, the plot is set up perfectly to make her character shine in the rich story-telling and she is someone you really learn to respect and love early on.
The Viking warrior Brandr that Omat meets is an interesting addition overall and his role is carefully considered and crafted by the author. Brandr also opens up the possibility for a bit more playful dialogue, which I really enjoyed! And yet, he has to work hard to gain the love and trust from both Omat and the reader. I found him intriguing and myself solid jealous of Omat for having his company! ^^
The story is not something you sit down and zoom through with speed. This story is meant to be savoured. Sure, of course, once I started reading this book I didn’t want to stop but by the gods, I lapped up every word, every mythological story and element. Every setting and scene and piece of dialogue creating a seamless and vivid picture. I don’t know, this book and the story just makes me feel like when I read it, I was looking at the sky and saw the Universe… that kind of way! The whole picture! Simply precious! So precious it makes me want to weep with adoration!
So, yes, there are hardships and death and war and revenge and the bloody Ragnarok. But they are all the obstacles that life would always place in front of every living being anyway.. well, kind of. I’m taking my own artistic license here! You get the gist- there is no good without the bad, ever. There is no easy or simple without the hard and the difficult, ever. There is only the way we accept the lot given to us and the way we decide to deal. There is some wisdom in this book and there are sacrifices but there is also the lesson of love and loyalty and doing the right thing!
Just… Get this book. Read this book!
…
OK, you’re still here :) Need more convincing? Not a problem! Well, first of all, I would like to say that this book is quite ‘dark’ in nature. I mean, literally, the Sun disappears for quite a while far up in the North… but… If you’re sensitive to the more cruel side of life and nature then you won’t manage to handle it in places. People (old and young) and animals (furry, fluffy and feathered) die in this book. You’re warned! It does get occasionally very grim!
But…
On the other hand, this book is structured perfectly around its historical, mythological Inuit/Viking theme where the plot takes us on a journey from the very beginning to the end… like one big circle… You’re born, you live, you die and you’re born again… that kind of way awesome! And every part of this journey is important! The Inuit way of life- so natural and common sense and down to earth and even a bit otherworldly as it tiptoes to the spiritual side; with its stories of spirits- well, I was left positively breathless. This book is everything! I definitely read myself into 2019 with a masterpiece that now sits firmly as my favourite for decades to come!
I even read all of the author’s notes in the end where she explains the research and work and effort that has gone into this book over a decade and I just want to… I don’t know, erect a monument for Jordanna! Yes, she has taken some artistic license with the historical facts, culture and mythology but she knows it, admits it and points it out, and as far as a fictional work- I think Jordanna has done herself well proud here.
They say that from the first moment I took my first breath, I have lived between many worlds- between Sun and Moon, man and woman, Inuk and animal.
This story is about Omat… about her birth and how she inherits her fathers soul and how her grandfather raises her as a boy to become a man and an angakkuq (shaman). And what a story this is! Spanning many years of Omat’s life. All these years of life that fit within them the challenges she faces with her own people being who she is, the challenges she faces when she meets threatening strangers (Norse vikings) and the challenges she faces when the gods interfere!
I was apprehensive throughout this book… With the inclusion of Norse mythology (Thor, Odin, Loki, etc) alongside Inuit beliefs and culture, the clash and contrast in between the 2 were striking. The implications of new people arriving to new lands bringing their own religion, perhaps even the desert walking Christ, were setting the whole story up for doom and I couldn’t wait to see what kind of solutions Omat brought to the table in order to save her own people. The whole story, the plot is set up perfectly to make her character shine in the rich story-telling and she is someone you really learn to respect and love early on.
The Viking warrior Brandr that Omat meets is an interesting addition overall and his role is carefully considered and crafted by the author. Brandr also opens up the possibility for a bit more playful dialogue, which I really enjoyed! And yet, he has to work hard to gain the love and trust from both Omat and the reader. I found him intriguing and myself solid jealous of Omat for having his company! ^^
The story is not something you sit down and zoom through with speed. This story is meant to be savoured. Sure, of course, once I started reading this book I didn’t want to stop but by the gods, I lapped up every word, every mythological story and element. Every setting and scene and piece of dialogue creating a seamless and vivid picture. I don’t know, this book and the story just makes me feel like when I read it, I was looking at the sky and saw the Universe… that kind of way! The whole picture! Simply precious! So precious it makes me want to weep with adoration!
An Inuk planned for the future; a wolf lived in the now.
So, yes, there are hardships and death and war and revenge and the bloody Ragnarok. But they are all the obstacles that life would always place in front of every living being anyway.. well, kind of. I’m taking my own artistic license here! You get the gist- there is no good without the bad, ever. There is no easy or simple without the hard and the difficult, ever. There is only the way we accept the lot given to us and the way we decide to deal. There is some wisdom in this book and there are sacrifices but there is also the lesson of love and loyalty and doing the right thing!
Just… Get this book. Read this book!
January 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this, especially as a breath of fresh air in the fantasy books I've been reading in the last year. I absolutely adored the Inuit & Viking lore interwoven to create the magic system & fantasy world. I loved the characters, and was delighted to see the exploration of fluidity in Omat's gender identity. That was definitely an unexpected thematic element to this 1000AD era fantasy world, and I thought the author's unraveling of Omat's feelings about her own status as both man and woman was really well handled. The writing in this was lovely, the action scenes were handled nicely, and I loved the slow unspooling of the romance between Omat & Brandr.
The only thing that docks this down for me is pacing - I thought it was rather uneven, with some stretches going by so slowly and then other bits flying by too quickly. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time in this world and would recommend for someone looking for a change of pace from a lot of other hyped fantasy coming out this year
Also, definite CWs on explicit depictions of violence, including sexual violence
The only thing that docks this down for me is pacing - I thought it was rather uneven, with some stretches going by so slowly and then other bits flying by too quickly. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time in this world and would recommend for someone looking for a change of pace from a lot of other hyped fantasy coming out this year
Also, definite CWs on explicit depictions of violence, including sexual violence
February 7, 2019
This review was originally published at THE FANTASY HIVE - https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/02/th...
I’ve just finished The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky and I’m a bit blown away. It starts as a very tight and intimate story about a young Inuit and their relationship with their family and with the spirits that guide their daily life, then introduces the Viking threat from the outside world, then throws their gods into the mix and by the end just goes absolutely maniacally insane.
When Omat is born, her tribe has just suffered a great loss and lost many of their hunting-age men to the angry spirits of the ice. As she is brought into the world, the soul of her father is called from the sea and he is reborn inside her, leading her to be raised as a man. As a powerful spirit guide, Omat crosses worlds and breaks boundaries as she lives as a man and hunter but is often treated by others as a woman. On top of this she is constantly questioning her own feelings as she struggles to establish her own identity and fulfil her own wants and needs without betraying the person she was raised to be. Her development and growth as a character is just as incredible as her physical journey across the ice.
The world is beautiful, harsh and cold. It is an ever present character and one that constantly determines what the other characters can and cannot do. One of the amazing things about a book set in the ice is it gives us is both a world we know and one that is completely foreign and alien to the average reader. I could not get enough of it and when I hit the final 200 pages I actually went and sat at an ice rink because I genuinely wanted to immerse myself as much as I possibly could.
The magic is quite wonderful. Gods are powered by their believers, the Inuit follow their animal spirits and tell stories of the sun and the moon, the Vikings worship the all-father Odin, the warrior Thor and the trickster Loki, and on the horizon a new threat builds. A god known as Christ has risen and given his life for ordinary people, his followers spread his word like a highly infectious disease with promises of an afterlife in heaven and eternal damnation in a fiery hell for non-believers. With their regular worshippers converting to this new upstart, the gods of old find themselves in need of new followers or at the very least a land this new god cannot reach.
The Wolf in the Whale is magical and awe inspiring. It moves at a lovely pace and brings together an incredible world of ice and magic and characters that will capture your heart. It is truly a book that will take you places and one I highly recommend, and you can pick it up right now.
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/02/th...
I’ve just finished The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky and I’m a bit blown away. It starts as a very tight and intimate story about a young Inuit and their relationship with their family and with the spirits that guide their daily life, then introduces the Viking threat from the outside world, then throws their gods into the mix and by the end just goes absolutely maniacally insane.
When Omat is born, her tribe has just suffered a great loss and lost many of their hunting-age men to the angry spirits of the ice. As she is brought into the world, the soul of her father is called from the sea and he is reborn inside her, leading her to be raised as a man. As a powerful spirit guide, Omat crosses worlds and breaks boundaries as she lives as a man and hunter but is often treated by others as a woman. On top of this she is constantly questioning her own feelings as she struggles to establish her own identity and fulfil her own wants and needs without betraying the person she was raised to be. Her development and growth as a character is just as incredible as her physical journey across the ice.
The world is beautiful, harsh and cold. It is an ever present character and one that constantly determines what the other characters can and cannot do. One of the amazing things about a book set in the ice is it gives us is both a world we know and one that is completely foreign and alien to the average reader. I could not get enough of it and when I hit the final 200 pages I actually went and sat at an ice rink because I genuinely wanted to immerse myself as much as I possibly could.
The magic is quite wonderful. Gods are powered by their believers, the Inuit follow their animal spirits and tell stories of the sun and the moon, the Vikings worship the all-father Odin, the warrior Thor and the trickster Loki, and on the horizon a new threat builds. A god known as Christ has risen and given his life for ordinary people, his followers spread his word like a highly infectious disease with promises of an afterlife in heaven and eternal damnation in a fiery hell for non-believers. With their regular worshippers converting to this new upstart, the gods of old find themselves in need of new followers or at the very least a land this new god cannot reach.
The Wolf in the Whale is magical and awe inspiring. It moves at a lovely pace and brings together an incredible world of ice and magic and characters that will capture your heart. It is truly a book that will take you places and one I highly recommend, and you can pick it up right now.
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/02/th...
November 6, 2019
Novels featuring Gods and Goddesses and mythology aren’t generally my go-to. But this book, admittedly, attracted me based on the native Inuit character, Omat. I have been long fascinated by North American native culture.
I also read with heightened interest, as my sister was – at the same time – listening to an audiobook about mythology amongst cultures, nations, and religions. She shared the audiobook’s parallels drawn between stories in the Bible and those in African, Norse, and Greek tales. I was hooked.
And in this book, you’ll get a taste of those incredible parallels as well. I was engrossed by the main character’s journey, but at the same time I kept thinking, “This author is brilliant; she must, indeed, be a scholar of mythology. She did SO much research. To so artfully braid a storyline with history and mythology and spiritual practices would be so difficult.” I was not surprised, in the author’s bio, to learn that she holds a degree in history and literature from Harvard.
I was blown away by Brodsky’s ability to weave together Inuit and Norse history, culture and myth. This story of a fierce Inuit character (Omat) and a Norse man (Brandr) is a bit of a nail-biter. The harsh landscape is often a foe, and battles and complications ensue at rapid-fire pace. The beliefs in various spirits and gods was fascinating. I’m so happy I read this book, which is ‘out-of-genre’ for me, one who – sadly – was not exposed to much mythology at all throughout my education. I shed some tears in this one, as well. Always the sign of a book that has emotional resonance.
Fans of mythology will gobble this story up, as will those with an interest in novels that thematically tackle the role of lore and storytelling in culture and daily life. This is a story that parallels the author’s passions: it’s a story of respect for nature, history and storytelling.
I also read with heightened interest, as my sister was – at the same time – listening to an audiobook about mythology amongst cultures, nations, and religions. She shared the audiobook’s parallels drawn between stories in the Bible and those in African, Norse, and Greek tales. I was hooked.
And in this book, you’ll get a taste of those incredible parallels as well. I was engrossed by the main character’s journey, but at the same time I kept thinking, “This author is brilliant; she must, indeed, be a scholar of mythology. She did SO much research. To so artfully braid a storyline with history and mythology and spiritual practices would be so difficult.” I was not surprised, in the author’s bio, to learn that she holds a degree in history and literature from Harvard.
I was blown away by Brodsky’s ability to weave together Inuit and Norse history, culture and myth. This story of a fierce Inuit character (Omat) and a Norse man (Brandr) is a bit of a nail-biter. The harsh landscape is often a foe, and battles and complications ensue at rapid-fire pace. The beliefs in various spirits and gods was fascinating. I’m so happy I read this book, which is ‘out-of-genre’ for me, one who – sadly – was not exposed to much mythology at all throughout my education. I shed some tears in this one, as well. Always the sign of a book that has emotional resonance.
Fans of mythology will gobble this story up, as will those with an interest in novels that thematically tackle the role of lore and storytelling in culture and daily life. This is a story that parallels the author’s passions: it’s a story of respect for nature, history and storytelling.
September 22, 2019
I don’t know how to rate this. The portrayal of indigenous Inuit people, gender, and a two spirited person, someone who is both male and female or “third gendered” and was revered and respected among indigenous peoples, were problematic and unfortunate, despite the author’s good intentions. If you want to learn more about being born male in a female body, this is absolutely not the place to go.
However as a tale of mythology and a look into the life on the ice a thousand years ago, it’s an intriguing story, which was what kept me reading it to the end.
Eta: Finally decided on 3 stars, even though I kind of dislike that middle rating.
However as a tale of mythology and a look into the life on the ice a thousand years ago, it’s an intriguing story, which was what kept me reading it to the end.
Eta: Finally decided on 3 stars, even though I kind of dislike that middle rating.
February 12, 2019
*Review originally published on Fantasy Book Review*
"There are few sounds at night on the frozen sea besides the roar of the wind. No plants to rustle, no waves to crash upon the shore, no birds to caw. The white owl flies on hushed wings. The white fox walks with silent tread. Even Inuit move as softly as spirits, the snow too hard to yield and crunch beneath our boots. We hear little, but what we do hear is vital: the exploding breath of a surfacing seal, the shift and crack of drifting ice. But in the forest there is always sound. The trees, even in their shrouds of snow, are alive, and their voices--groans, creaks, screams--never cease."
I am so happy this was my first read of the new year! It is absolutely stunning. Oof.
The Wolf in the Whale is based around the recorded events of the Norse explorer Leif Erikson and how around the same time, the Inuit people were heading on their own expedition.
Our main focus is on Omat, an Inuit shaman who is fighting for the survival of her people. Even though she is a powerful angakkuq (shaman) who can take the forms of her animal spirit guides, it is not enough to feed her tribe.
Chaos ensues. Bad shit happens.
Along the way, Omat crosses paths with Brandr, a Viking warrior. Their cultures may clash, but they soon learn that to survive, they will need to work together.
The setting is beautiful and fucking brutal. It takes place in a frozen tundra in 1000 AD at the edge of the world, which we now know as Arctic Canada. Jordanna Max Brodsky is a brilliant storyteller. The world-building shown here is captivating with the juxtaposition of history, magic and culture. The prose is lovely and engaging. The imagery is detailed and just so striking. You can feel the icy cold air on your face, your fleeting breath twirling in misty clouds, the crunch of the hard packed snow as you walk.. you cannot help but become absorbed into this atmospheric tale that is draped in melancholy.
"They say that from the moment I took my first breath, I have lived between many worlds--between Sun and Moon, man and woman, Inuk and animal."
Brodsky explores the idea of sexuality, gender and identity in such a fluid way through Omat's story. It's a beautiful examination on how not everything has to fit into one narrow box placed in front of you. You can instead create your own box.
Omat was born in a female's body, but her family believe that she inherited her dead fathers soul, so she lives as a boy. As you can imagine, the gender roles were even more strict back then and so, this becomes a major issue when another band that may be able to help her struggling tribe tries to force her to live as a woman.
This is not an easy read. It slowly builds and then you find yourself clawed at, something ravaging your emotions. There are.. there are incredibly difficult scenes throughout this. Rape, animals dying, physical violence.. but it never, ever feels gratuitous. The climate is harsh and so is the life lived.
The Wolf in the Whale is a journey. One filled with magic, mythology and adventure. I fell wicked hard for Omat! She is such a formidable character. Her personal trajectory is truly something special to behold. It's about finding fulfillment in your life and ultimately, what it means to be our authentic selves.
This book more than proves that Brodsky was not only deeply inspired by the Inuit and rich Norse mythology, but that she put in immense effort and research. The respect and care with which she told this is breathtaking. Such a gorgeous story filled with violence and heartache and hope. I sobbed when this ended. Sobbed.
This epic, sprawling standalone fantasy novel should not be missed. It will be one that stays with me for quite some time, certain scenes will continue to haunt me long after that.
(Big thanks to Redhook & Orbit Books for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
"There are few sounds at night on the frozen sea besides the roar of the wind. No plants to rustle, no waves to crash upon the shore, no birds to caw. The white owl flies on hushed wings. The white fox walks with silent tread. Even Inuit move as softly as spirits, the snow too hard to yield and crunch beneath our boots. We hear little, but what we do hear is vital: the exploding breath of a surfacing seal, the shift and crack of drifting ice. But in the forest there is always sound. The trees, even in their shrouds of snow, are alive, and their voices--groans, creaks, screams--never cease."
I am so happy this was my first read of the new year! It is absolutely stunning. Oof.
The Wolf in the Whale is based around the recorded events of the Norse explorer Leif Erikson and how around the same time, the Inuit people were heading on their own expedition.
Our main focus is on Omat, an Inuit shaman who is fighting for the survival of her people. Even though she is a powerful angakkuq (shaman) who can take the forms of her animal spirit guides, it is not enough to feed her tribe.
Chaos ensues. Bad shit happens.
Along the way, Omat crosses paths with Brandr, a Viking warrior. Their cultures may clash, but they soon learn that to survive, they will need to work together.
The setting is beautiful and fucking brutal. It takes place in a frozen tundra in 1000 AD at the edge of the world, which we now know as Arctic Canada. Jordanna Max Brodsky is a brilliant storyteller. The world-building shown here is captivating with the juxtaposition of history, magic and culture. The prose is lovely and engaging. The imagery is detailed and just so striking. You can feel the icy cold air on your face, your fleeting breath twirling in misty clouds, the crunch of the hard packed snow as you walk.. you cannot help but become absorbed into this atmospheric tale that is draped in melancholy.
"They say that from the moment I took my first breath, I have lived between many worlds--between Sun and Moon, man and woman, Inuk and animal."
Brodsky explores the idea of sexuality, gender and identity in such a fluid way through Omat's story. It's a beautiful examination on how not everything has to fit into one narrow box placed in front of you. You can instead create your own box.
Omat was born in a female's body, but her family believe that she inherited her dead fathers soul, so she lives as a boy. As you can imagine, the gender roles were even more strict back then and so, this becomes a major issue when another band that may be able to help her struggling tribe tries to force her to live as a woman.
This is not an easy read. It slowly builds and then you find yourself clawed at, something ravaging your emotions. There are.. there are incredibly difficult scenes throughout this. Rape, animals dying, physical violence.. but it never, ever feels gratuitous. The climate is harsh and so is the life lived.
The Wolf in the Whale is a journey. One filled with magic, mythology and adventure. I fell wicked hard for Omat! She is such a formidable character. Her personal trajectory is truly something special to behold. It's about finding fulfillment in your life and ultimately, what it means to be our authentic selves.
This book more than proves that Brodsky was not only deeply inspired by the Inuit and rich Norse mythology, but that she put in immense effort and research. The respect and care with which she told this is breathtaking. Such a gorgeous story filled with violence and heartache and hope. I sobbed when this ended. Sobbed.
This epic, sprawling standalone fantasy novel should not be missed. It will be one that stays with me for quite some time, certain scenes will continue to haunt me long after that.
(Big thanks to Redhook & Orbit Books for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
December 7, 2018
Full review is here on my blog!~
Wow. This book.
I’m not sure how I’m going to sum this up, because this book gave me all kinds of the feels.
This is the story of Omat, who is a young Inuit hunter and apprentice shaman. As there are very strong taboos about women hunting and women being shamans in Omat’s culture, this is a bit of a difficult situation. Omat holds her father’s spirit, and as such, she is raised like a boy, in fact she doesn’t even realize that she is physically a girl until she’s ten or so. Nevertheless, it is decreed that until she bleeds, she has the spirit of a man, and is therefore a man, and can hunt seals and walrus for her small family. And everything is fine, until strangers arrive and throw everything into chaos. Eventually, chaos brings Omat face to face with people she has never seen before.
This one took me a little while to really get into. The beginning is a coming of age story, and while I don’t dislike those, and Omat does indeed have a very non-typical coming of age, I still found myself not really 100% sure of how I felt about her character. But I kept on going, because this book sounds very interesting indeed from the blurb.
And suddenly it was 3am, I couldn’t put this book down, I was having a bit of a cry, and I realized that I was a bit hooked on it. This book is really hard to put down once you pick it up.
The prose was lovely, and it was a very well written book. There must have been quite a lot of research involved, and it was all very well put together. There is a fair deal of Inuit language and folklore involved, as well as Norse folklore and mythology and it was truly fascinating to read a fantasy story based in both cultures and how the two peoples are very different but not completely.
It’s a bit of a difficult read at times, and I mean that in that Omat… generally does *not* have a good time of things in this one. There are some tough subjects at times, like sexual violence, violence against infants and children, and just general violence. But none of this stuff ever seemed like it was in there as a plot device or something bad that happens for badness’ sake. It also uses the idea of gender and what makes a person male or female in an interesting way. It felt very realistic, as far as historical arctic-set fantasy with gods and magic can be.
When Omat crosses paths with the Norse, and spends time with Brandr, learning about him and his people, this one only got harder and harder to put down. Even with frequent breaks, I plowed through this one in just short of 3 days, and it’s not a short book. The last 1/4 of this book had me in tears. Teeeeaaaarssss!
All told, I really liked this one. There were times that I wasn’t sure if I’d have to stop. As I’ve mentioned, sometimes books that have heavy themes make me a little antsy, and I have to take many breaks to avoid getting a little too ramped up. This was one of those books (it’s not the first, and it won’t be the last) but at the same time, it was one that I always, always went back to as soon as I could.
Really well done! I loved it.
Many thanks to the author, as well as Redhook via NetGalley for the review copy.
Wow. This book.
I’m not sure how I’m going to sum this up, because this book gave me all kinds of the feels.
This is the story of Omat, who is a young Inuit hunter and apprentice shaman. As there are very strong taboos about women hunting and women being shamans in Omat’s culture, this is a bit of a difficult situation. Omat holds her father’s spirit, and as such, she is raised like a boy, in fact she doesn’t even realize that she is physically a girl until she’s ten or so. Nevertheless, it is decreed that until she bleeds, she has the spirit of a man, and is therefore a man, and can hunt seals and walrus for her small family. And everything is fine, until strangers arrive and throw everything into chaos. Eventually, chaos brings Omat face to face with people she has never seen before.
This one took me a little while to really get into. The beginning is a coming of age story, and while I don’t dislike those, and Omat does indeed have a very non-typical coming of age, I still found myself not really 100% sure of how I felt about her character. But I kept on going, because this book sounds very interesting indeed from the blurb.
And suddenly it was 3am, I couldn’t put this book down, I was having a bit of a cry, and I realized that I was a bit hooked on it. This book is really hard to put down once you pick it up.
The prose was lovely, and it was a very well written book. There must have been quite a lot of research involved, and it was all very well put together. There is a fair deal of Inuit language and folklore involved, as well as Norse folklore and mythology and it was truly fascinating to read a fantasy story based in both cultures and how the two peoples are very different but not completely.
It’s a bit of a difficult read at times, and I mean that in that Omat… generally does *not* have a good time of things in this one. There are some tough subjects at times, like sexual violence, violence against infants and children, and just general violence. But none of this stuff ever seemed like it was in there as a plot device or something bad that happens for badness’ sake. It also uses the idea of gender and what makes a person male or female in an interesting way. It felt very realistic, as far as historical arctic-set fantasy with gods and magic can be.
When Omat crosses paths with the Norse, and spends time with Brandr, learning about him and his people, this one only got harder and harder to put down. Even with frequent breaks, I plowed through this one in just short of 3 days, and it’s not a short book. The last 1/4 of this book had me in tears. Teeeeaaaarssss!
All told, I really liked this one. There were times that I wasn’t sure if I’d have to stop. As I’ve mentioned, sometimes books that have heavy themes make me a little antsy, and I have to take many breaks to avoid getting a little too ramped up. This was one of those books (it’s not the first, and it won’t be the last) but at the same time, it was one that I always, always went back to as soon as I could.
Really well done! I loved it.
Many thanks to the author, as well as Redhook via NetGalley for the review copy.
July 26, 2019
A rich and gorgeous tale, sucked me in from the beginning and didn't let go.
It is a slower paced read at times, but always character driven. The landscape itself feels so alive and vibrant as the people in it.
I don't have enough words right now to cover how much I love this book:).
It is a slower paced read at times, but always character driven. The landscape itself feels so alive and vibrant as the people in it.
I don't have enough words right now to cover how much I love this book:).
November 13, 2021
The Wolf in the Whale is not a book I've seen or heard a lot about so I definitely think I've found a hidden gem. I've never read a book that included Inuit culture and spiritual traditions before. It was fascinating and made this book really unique. I love when fantasy books take you away from the more traditional European setting. All the ice and snow are perfect for a winter read.
I also really enjoyed the clash of the Inuit and Vikings. It was really interesting to see how the author used mythology and spiritualism from two very different cultures. Omat was such a great character to follow and had a fantastic arc. One that I haven't seen done before in fantasy. The only complaint I have is the pacing. There were times when it felt slow and other times it felt as if things were happening rather abruptly. It was a brutal story at times, but it was also filled with beauty. If you like historical fantasy definitely add this your TBR.
CW: rape, graphic violence
I also really enjoyed the clash of the Inuit and Vikings. It was really interesting to see how the author used mythology and spiritualism from two very different cultures. Omat was such a great character to follow and had a fantastic arc. One that I haven't seen done before in fantasy. The only complaint I have is the pacing. There were times when it felt slow and other times it felt as if things were happening rather abruptly. It was a brutal story at times, but it was also filled with beauty. If you like historical fantasy definitely add this your TBR.
CW: rape, graphic violence
November 15, 2020
Wow, this was just SO good.
The story is about an Inuk living through a time of great upheaval and change, the coming of the Norse to the Arctic. Jordana Max Brodsky's story uses the mix of cultures, the clash of traditions, the everyday presence but often inaccessibility of spiritual/magical forces, and excellent character development in a way that reminded me strongly of Juliet Marillier.
I'm already predisposed to liking books set in the North, but even so, this is one of my favorite books read in 2020.
The story is about an Inuk living through a time of great upheaval and change, the coming of the Norse to the Arctic. Jordana Max Brodsky's story uses the mix of cultures, the clash of traditions, the everyday presence but often inaccessibility of spiritual/magical forces, and excellent character development in a way that reminded me strongly of Juliet Marillier.
I'm already predisposed to liking books set in the North, but even so, this is one of my favorite books read in 2020.
November 2, 2020
*Trigger warning: Rape; Bloody scenes*
This book was stellar, and I loved it right from the start which was so evocative of the icy lands in which it is set. This book draws the nights in, sets the scene, and pulls you along on the journey with it. There's magic in the form of vengeful and fickle gods, Inuit groups who live and travel the ice landscapes hunting for their survival, and a young character called Omat and it's their story we follow.
Omat is a character unlike any I have read before as they are not fixed in their body, but rather were born with one body, but have the soul of another. They are young and yet clever and we see them right from birth, through to much later in their life when they have travelled and learned much more of the world, and their situation in it.
This is a blend of Norse and Inuit tales, stories and history. There's some tales which were familiar to me, and others which felt like they were new as they reflect the Inuit culture which I did not know so well. Every time the family of Omat gather by the fire, they tell stories of their Gods and their past, and these I found captivating and alluring in equal measure. The Gods of the world are vast and varied in their forms, morals and their connection and influence over the humans.
The world building is probably what I felt most enchanted by whilst reading this story, as it really captured my imagination and took me to the icy tundras. I felt as though I could vividly experience the love of the family, and the trust and care they all had, along with their beliefs in their gods and their stories. Truly, the travel across the ice sheets was terrifying and intense, as I am sure it would be in reality, living in a harsh climate and one of the deadliest.
There are some pretty dark and horrible scenes, both bloody and gore-y (when they're hunting or being hunted) and also sexually (rape). I think these scenes were necessary to the plot, and they added to the sense of life and death, and desperation, that our characters felt, but they are a little intense so just be aware if you plan to pick this up.
Another major character comes into play later in the book called Brandr. His plot took a little longer for me to connect with, but his story ties in the Viking tribes and their bloodlust and warfare as they travelled the lands. I think his clear evolution over his life from a warrior to a broken man and back again is what makes him a character you can sympathise with, and I liked that.
I was surprised by a few areas of the plot, particularly the gods and their intentions, and I think this was one of the most fun elements. Whilst the ice is a known quantity of deathly, the Gods are very much their own entities and they have quite large sway over many of the characters and their deeds. There were a good few reveals, both big and smaller, that I really enjoyed seeing and experiencing, and I recommend this book for the surprise elements.
Overall, the pace was great, the characters felt real, and the adventure and magic was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this and it's 100% one of the top books of the year that I have recently read, so I think everyone should give it a try as Winter draws in, it's the perfect time for it :) 5*s
This book was stellar, and I loved it right from the start which was so evocative of the icy lands in which it is set. This book draws the nights in, sets the scene, and pulls you along on the journey with it. There's magic in the form of vengeful and fickle gods, Inuit groups who live and travel the ice landscapes hunting for their survival, and a young character called Omat and it's their story we follow.
Omat is a character unlike any I have read before as they are not fixed in their body, but rather were born with one body, but have the soul of another. They are young and yet clever and we see them right from birth, through to much later in their life when they have travelled and learned much more of the world, and their situation in it.
This is a blend of Norse and Inuit tales, stories and history. There's some tales which were familiar to me, and others which felt like they were new as they reflect the Inuit culture which I did not know so well. Every time the family of Omat gather by the fire, they tell stories of their Gods and their past, and these I found captivating and alluring in equal measure. The Gods of the world are vast and varied in their forms, morals and their connection and influence over the humans.
The world building is probably what I felt most enchanted by whilst reading this story, as it really captured my imagination and took me to the icy tundras. I felt as though I could vividly experience the love of the family, and the trust and care they all had, along with their beliefs in their gods and their stories. Truly, the travel across the ice sheets was terrifying and intense, as I am sure it would be in reality, living in a harsh climate and one of the deadliest.
There are some pretty dark and horrible scenes, both bloody and gore-y (when they're hunting or being hunted) and also sexually (rape). I think these scenes were necessary to the plot, and they added to the sense of life and death, and desperation, that our characters felt, but they are a little intense so just be aware if you plan to pick this up.
Another major character comes into play later in the book called Brandr. His plot took a little longer for me to connect with, but his story ties in the Viking tribes and their bloodlust and warfare as they travelled the lands. I think his clear evolution over his life from a warrior to a broken man and back again is what makes him a character you can sympathise with, and I liked that.
I was surprised by a few areas of the plot, particularly the gods and their intentions, and I think this was one of the most fun elements. Whilst the ice is a known quantity of deathly, the Gods are very much their own entities and they have quite large sway over many of the characters and their deeds. There were a good few reveals, both big and smaller, that I really enjoyed seeing and experiencing, and I recommend this book for the surprise elements.
Overall, the pace was great, the characters felt real, and the adventure and magic was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this and it's 100% one of the top books of the year that I have recently read, so I think everyone should give it a try as Winter draws in, it's the perfect time for it :) 5*s
February 24, 2019
My favorite read of 2019 so far. What a delightfully brutal tale with myth and magic, Friendship and family bonds intertwined. I haven’t loved a character like Omat in a long time. So happy I got to take this journey with her.
June 20, 2020
“They say that from the moment I [Omat] took my first breath, I have lived between many worlds—between Sun and Moon, man and woman, Inuk and animal. So perhaps it’s not surprising that I have seen worlds my family could never imagine. I have seen the painted men in their bark houses, and I have slept beneath trees as tall as a whale is long. I have spoken with the spirits and walked in their land. I have seen men who could harness the wind, men with hair the color of flame and eyes the color of ice. And when their own great spirits set foot on my shore, striking thunder from the stars and calling monsters from the deep, I have battled with their gods of war—and wept with their gods of love.” – Jordanna Max Brodsky, The Wolf in the Whale
Omat, a young Inuk living in the arctic in the 11th century, inhabits the soul of a hunter and the spirit of a wolf. Omat faces many hardships, learning from experience and leading to personal growth. This book relates the culture and history of the Inuit as they encounter the Vikings during the exploration of North America. When the two peoples meet, a clash is inevitable.
Omat embarks on a journey to save a brother, and encounters a Viking separated from his people. These two are unable to speak the same language. They are strangers, but through facing adversity, form an unlikely bond. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of how their relationship evolves over time.
The author weaves together a pleasing mix of historical fiction, magical realism, mythology, folklore, religious beliefs, covering both Inuit and Norse traditions. The story is a compelling and creative journey of self-discovery and survival. The author provides notes on the historical period, documenting what is fact and what authorial license is taken. Be aware that the story contains gruesome violence, rape, harm to children, and killing and butchering animals. It is a sweeping epic filled with adventures that educates as it entertains.
Omat, a young Inuk living in the arctic in the 11th century, inhabits the soul of a hunter and the spirit of a wolf. Omat faces many hardships, learning from experience and leading to personal growth. This book relates the culture and history of the Inuit as they encounter the Vikings during the exploration of North America. When the two peoples meet, a clash is inevitable.
Omat embarks on a journey to save a brother, and encounters a Viking separated from his people. These two are unable to speak the same language. They are strangers, but through facing adversity, form an unlikely bond. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of how their relationship evolves over time.
The author weaves together a pleasing mix of historical fiction, magical realism, mythology, folklore, religious beliefs, covering both Inuit and Norse traditions. The story is a compelling and creative journey of self-discovery and survival. The author provides notes on the historical period, documenting what is fact and what authorial license is taken. Be aware that the story contains gruesome violence, rape, harm to children, and killing and butchering animals. It is a sweeping epic filled with adventures that educates as it entertains.
September 6, 2019
I loved the story. Really enjoyed the setting, the meeting of different cultures- the attempts at communication early on were possibly my favorite part, while the fantasy aspects provided an easy bridge, of course. I’m always squeamish about animals slaughter, but I liked how the animals are appreciated by the Inuit, it stood in contrast with the Vikings who sow death and destruction in their path.
The ending was dragging quite a bit, but overall a wonderful tribute to Inuit culture and mythology with a dose of Norse mythology. The forward and afterward by the author about her inspiration and research were also interesting to read.
The ending was dragging quite a bit, but overall a wonderful tribute to Inuit culture and mythology with a dose of Norse mythology. The forward and afterward by the author about her inspiration and research were also interesting to read.
January 19, 2019
The Wolf in the Whale was a book that I expected to enjoy but found myself surprised by how much I ended up loving! so many feels - this book is grim, brutal, heartbreaking. the wolf in the whale is a powerful exploration of survival in the most barren of landscapes, family loyalty, and gender fluidity in a time that afforded no leniency for challenging the established ways.
these characters, especially omat and brandr, got under my skin and spoke to me deeply. i’ve never read anything like omat, an Inuit with a female body who has inherited the soul of her dead father. it was completely fascinating to experience Inuit spiritual beliefs through her character.
the Inuit and Norse cultures are meticulously researched and etched out in intricate detail with many magical elements mixed in, making this a book for history and fantasy lovers alike. i am of the opinion that we need much more aboriginal and non-binary rep like this and I am so very full of appreciation for this beautiful tale.
now please excuse me, i’m going to go have a nice long cathartic cry.
{trigger warning for graphic violence and rape.}
4 stars
thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.<\I>
these characters, especially omat and brandr, got under my skin and spoke to me deeply. i’ve never read anything like omat, an Inuit with a female body who has inherited the soul of her dead father. it was completely fascinating to experience Inuit spiritual beliefs through her character.
the Inuit and Norse cultures are meticulously researched and etched out in intricate detail with many magical elements mixed in, making this a book for history and fantasy lovers alike. i am of the opinion that we need much more aboriginal and non-binary rep like this and I am so very full of appreciation for this beautiful tale.
now please excuse me, i’m going to go have a nice long cathartic cry.
{trigger warning for graphic violence and rape.}
4 stars
thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.<\I>
February 8, 2019
From the moment I first clapped eyes on The Wolf and the Whale and read the synopsis I knew this was going to be something special, and boy it certainly was that! This is a tale that immerses you in the beautiful writing and the ominous plot right from the outset, and it reads a lot like a fairytale or the myths, legends and folk tales of old with the same deceptively sunken depths and intrigue. One of the standout aspects for me had to be the atmosphere that underpins the whole story; proceedings are shrouded in an air of mystery with the reader never knows what is around the corner.
This is unlike anything I've ever read before and Ms Max Brodsky is one to watch. It's deep, dark intensity appealed to me wholeheartedly and which was reflected in my devouring of it in a single, enthralling sitting. She has a rare and utterly enchanting talent for storytelling; I simply cannot wait to see what she publishes in the future! A thoroughly deserved five-stars and a new author to add to my favourites list which admittedly is ever-expanding. A first-class read.
Many thanks to Orbit for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
This is unlike anything I've ever read before and Ms Max Brodsky is one to watch. It's deep, dark intensity appealed to me wholeheartedly and which was reflected in my devouring of it in a single, enthralling sitting. She has a rare and utterly enchanting talent for storytelling; I simply cannot wait to see what she publishes in the future! A thoroughly deserved five-stars and a new author to add to my favourites list which admittedly is ever-expanding. A first-class read.
Many thanks to Orbit for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
August 31, 2019
This book tore me apart!
There were passages I hated with all of my heart, and I wanted to deduct stars because of them – but I couldn’t. Because such a hate is in itself as powerful an emotion as love, and any author who makes me feel this way is to be applauded.
The story about the two-spirited Omat who grows up in a poor Inuit community that is on the brink of extinction is powerful, brutal, beautiful and deeply personal. We learn a lot about the shamanism and animism of the people, we feel the connectedness with the surrounding nature, an evironment that seems alien and hostile to those of us who grew up in parts of the world where food can be sowed and reaped. We learn about the vital importance to work together to be there for one another. And we follow Omat on a coming of-age-journey which is brutal and unforgiving. There is no mercy towards the protagonist or the reader. Think of any content warning – it most probably applies to this story.
After having learned much about the Inuit spirituality the story turns towards Vikings and Norse mythology. Brodsky interweaves the two types of faith and their gods in a masterfully way. It was a pleasure to see the boundaries dissolve and intermingle. That the encounter is told from the viewpoint of the Inuit and not – as so often – from the European stance is another asset of this story. There wasn’t a minute where I felt lectured or bored. And yet I learned so much.
It is one of those rare books that draw me in completely, that move me, that tear at my soul, that break my heart. A perfect combination of deeply layered characters, a masterfully structured plot, a lot of interesting historical/religious information without any infodumping and a good amount of fantastical elements. This is how a book should be written.
And not to forget: the best part, of course, is the pack!
There were passages I hated with all of my heart, and I wanted to deduct stars because of them – but I couldn’t. Because such a hate is in itself as powerful an emotion as love, and any author who makes me feel this way is to be applauded.
The story about the two-spirited Omat who grows up in a poor Inuit community that is on the brink of extinction is powerful, brutal, beautiful and deeply personal. We learn a lot about the shamanism and animism of the people, we feel the connectedness with the surrounding nature, an evironment that seems alien and hostile to those of us who grew up in parts of the world where food can be sowed and reaped. We learn about the vital importance to work together to be there for one another. And we follow Omat on a coming of-age-journey which is brutal and unforgiving. There is no mercy towards the protagonist or the reader. Think of any content warning – it most probably applies to this story.
After having learned much about the Inuit spirituality the story turns towards Vikings and Norse mythology. Brodsky interweaves the two types of faith and their gods in a masterfully way. It was a pleasure to see the boundaries dissolve and intermingle. That the encounter is told from the viewpoint of the Inuit and not – as so often – from the European stance is another asset of this story. There wasn’t a minute where I felt lectured or bored. And yet I learned so much.
It is one of those rare books that draw me in completely, that move me, that tear at my soul, that break my heart. A perfect combination of deeply layered characters, a masterfully structured plot, a lot of interesting historical/religious information without any infodumping and a good amount of fantastical elements. This is how a book should be written.
And not to forget: the best part, of course, is the pack!
January 7, 2021
I had one or two niggles with this book but the story was so all encompassing and immersive I couldn’t in all conscience have given it any less. I loved the combining of cultures and mythology and thought it was extremely well done. This was fascinating historical fiction as well as fantasy and a very accomplished piece of storytelling.
December 16, 2018
My 250th Book Read for the Year
Before I start this review, a shout out to Jes Reads Books, and her review of this incredible book. I heard about it through her, I was excited to read it because of her passion in talking about it. And then she went and sent it to me like the amazing person she is. Watch her review, read my review, then add this to your must read list.
Because this book is truly incredible. And there is so much to love for so many different kinds of people. You don't even know you're going to like it, until you pick it up and start finding all of the gems placed throughout.
It is the most severe understatement of 2018 to say that this book is Magical. Set in a frozen tundra in 1000 AD, this is the story of Omat, an Inuit hunter and seer born with the spirit of her deceased father. In this culture, because her father's spirit is within her, she is raised as a proper boy, allowed to (and expected to) hunt to feed their small tribe. She doesn't even realize she is a girl until another woman in their camp explains (QUITE rudely) that she couldn't marry her.
In this world, there are certain taboos that can never be crossed, for fear of angering the gods and causing them bad weather, bad health, or causing the animals to stay away so they cannot eat. One of these taboos is that women are not allowed to hunt. And as times get harder, her family begins to think she is bad luck. Despite her skill, despite her father's spirit, she is a girl. And she is cursing them.
For the first part of the book, we are focused on this small clan. We become so invested in them, and in learning who Omat is, we fall so hard for her. She is fiercely protective of her family, and of her dog, and she is proud of her abilities. She knows she has a woman's body, but she carries a man's weapon, and she has the favor of the gods. They will survive.
Then another tribe comes. And they rejoice. More hands, more food, potential husbands and wives, furthering of their family.
Needless to say, this is where everything goes to shit.
What happens to Omat is truly painful to read about. Slight trigger warnings, though major kudos to Jordanna Max Brodsky for handling a very triggering scene quickly and with just the right sharp cuts.
From this, Omat's life truly begins. Because guess what else was around in 1000 AD?
Motherfuckin' Vikings.
And they don't play with the Inuits.
And neither do their gods.
I literally cannot tell you more than this. This book is magical in literally every sense of the word. From the angakkuq magic, shaman magic, the ability to commune with the Ice Bear and the Great Wolf. From the descriptions of this world, not a fantasy, this is our world, millenia ago. Huge swaths of ice, where burning trees is not done because they are so rare. Where children learn to build igloos as soon as they can walk.
Brodsky's ability to plant imagery in the brain is the best I've read in quite a long time. I've never lived somewhere that got snow more than once every decade or so, but reading this, I had zero difficulty picturing it, and feeling the cold down to my bones.
There is so much pain, so much joy, so much strength, in these characters. Each betrayal is like an axe to the spine, but it makes the rise afterwards all the more joyous. Omat is a powerful human in her own right, and she will rescue herself and everyone else, while she's at it.
Last thing to talk about is the mythology. Or should I even call it mythology? We have everything here, from Omat's spirits to the Norse gods to Christ himself. They are all featured here, and the knowledge that these people all had to coexist at the same time, well before anyone was shrieking about a war on Christmas, and what they had to go through when they came upon each other.
I wanted to immediately turn around and read this book over again as soon as I finished it. It is so beautiful, so incredibly rich and filling. I honestly canNOT recommend it enough. Even if you don't think this may be your kind of book, it really really is.
Last note: There is a metric fuck ton of animal death in here. I was prepared. Or, I thought I was. This is a scenario where you gotta eat, which means you gotta hunt, which means adorable seals gotta go. But the author conveys the respect for these animals in such a way that all of my "noooooooooooooooooo" was mostly put aside.
Mostly.
Thank you, Jes, for gifting me this incredible experience. And thank you, Jordanna, for gifting all of us with this.
Before I start this review, a shout out to Jes Reads Books, and her review of this incredible book. I heard about it through her, I was excited to read it because of her passion in talking about it. And then she went and sent it to me like the amazing person she is. Watch her review, read my review, then add this to your must read list.
Because this book is truly incredible. And there is so much to love for so many different kinds of people. You don't even know you're going to like it, until you pick it up and start finding all of the gems placed throughout.
It is the most severe understatement of 2018 to say that this book is Magical. Set in a frozen tundra in 1000 AD, this is the story of Omat, an Inuit hunter and seer born with the spirit of her deceased father. In this culture, because her father's spirit is within her, she is raised as a proper boy, allowed to (and expected to) hunt to feed their small tribe. She doesn't even realize she is a girl until another woman in their camp explains (QUITE rudely) that she couldn't marry her.
In this world, there are certain taboos that can never be crossed, for fear of angering the gods and causing them bad weather, bad health, or causing the animals to stay away so they cannot eat. One of these taboos is that women are not allowed to hunt. And as times get harder, her family begins to think she is bad luck. Despite her skill, despite her father's spirit, she is a girl. And she is cursing them.
For the first part of the book, we are focused on this small clan. We become so invested in them, and in learning who Omat is, we fall so hard for her. She is fiercely protective of her family, and of her dog, and she is proud of her abilities. She knows she has a woman's body, but she carries a man's weapon, and she has the favor of the gods. They will survive.
Then another tribe comes. And they rejoice. More hands, more food, potential husbands and wives, furthering of their family.
Needless to say, this is where everything goes to shit.
What happens to Omat is truly painful to read about. Slight trigger warnings, though major kudos to Jordanna Max Brodsky for handling a very triggering scene quickly and with just the right sharp cuts.
From this, Omat's life truly begins. Because guess what else was around in 1000 AD?
Motherfuckin' Vikings.
And they don't play with the Inuits.
And neither do their gods.
I literally cannot tell you more than this. This book is magical in literally every sense of the word. From the angakkuq magic, shaman magic, the ability to commune with the Ice Bear and the Great Wolf. From the descriptions of this world, not a fantasy, this is our world, millenia ago. Huge swaths of ice, where burning trees is not done because they are so rare. Where children learn to build igloos as soon as they can walk.
Brodsky's ability to plant imagery in the brain is the best I've read in quite a long time. I've never lived somewhere that got snow more than once every decade or so, but reading this, I had zero difficulty picturing it, and feeling the cold down to my bones.
There is so much pain, so much joy, so much strength, in these characters. Each betrayal is like an axe to the spine, but it makes the rise afterwards all the more joyous. Omat is a powerful human in her own right, and she will rescue herself and everyone else, while she's at it.
Last thing to talk about is the mythology. Or should I even call it mythology? We have everything here, from Omat's spirits to the Norse gods to Christ himself. They are all featured here, and the knowledge that these people all had to coexist at the same time, well before anyone was shrieking about a war on Christmas, and what they had to go through when they came upon each other.
I wanted to immediately turn around and read this book over again as soon as I finished it. It is so beautiful, so incredibly rich and filling. I honestly canNOT recommend it enough. Even if you don't think this may be your kind of book, it really really is.
Last note: There is a metric fuck ton of animal death in here. I was prepared. Or, I thought I was. This is a scenario where you gotta eat, which means you gotta hunt, which means adorable seals gotta go. But the author conveys the respect for these animals in such a way that all of my "noooooooooooooooooo" was mostly put aside.
Mostly.
Thank you, Jes, for gifting me this incredible experience. And thank you, Jordanna, for gifting all of us with this.
September 10, 2019
This is a fantasy novel about the meeting of Inuit and Norse circa XI century AD from the point of view of Inuit.
The story starts with a birth of our protagonist: recently before that the father and other hunters drowned when ice crashed and this ought to be a lonely kid for a long time. Mother dies giving birth and the new born is too weak, so put outside for a night. At the morning, it is not only alive but is cared by a white wolf. The tribe shaman (Angakkuq in Inuktitut) sees that the kid got father’s soul and Omat and raises the kid as his own son, as a hunter and a spiritual man. The only problem is that Omat is a girl and Inuit gender roles are quite strict.
The story follows Omat’s growing out is her/his small tribe, with what initially looks like magical realism approach – we, readers, get the point of view of the Inuit, with belief that anything good and bad is caused by gods or spirits, while as ‘learned Europeans’ we can see that a perfectly natural and mundane can be the cause.
The story turns much more fantasy when the Norse arrive, with their gods and iron weapons. For me it was a turn for the worse but I perfectly see its necessity plot-wise.
The author clearly worked well with known sources on both Inuit and Norse, while I know little about both cultures, they look quite well depicted (with extremely minor point that Norsemen have to use shields more often, instead of holding a one-handed sword with two hands, which is quite hard with Norse type of grip with a large pommel).
The story starts with a birth of our protagonist: recently before that the father and other hunters drowned when ice crashed and this ought to be a lonely kid for a long time. Mother dies giving birth and the new born is too weak, so put outside for a night. At the morning, it is not only alive but is cared by a white wolf. The tribe shaman (Angakkuq in Inuktitut) sees that the kid got father’s soul and Omat and raises the kid as his own son, as a hunter and a spiritual man. The only problem is that Omat is a girl and Inuit gender roles are quite strict.
The story follows Omat’s growing out is her/his small tribe, with what initially looks like magical realism approach – we, readers, get the point of view of the Inuit, with belief that anything good and bad is caused by gods or spirits, while as ‘learned Europeans’ we can see that a perfectly natural and mundane can be the cause.
The story turns much more fantasy when the Norse arrive, with their gods and iron weapons. For me it was a turn for the worse but I perfectly see its necessity plot-wise.
The author clearly worked well with known sources on both Inuit and Norse, while I know little about both cultures, they look quite well depicted (with extremely minor point that Norsemen have to use shields more often, instead of holding a one-handed sword with two hands, which is quite hard with Norse type of grip with a large pommel).
January 20, 2019
It's only January and I already know this is my favorite read of 2019. The Wolf In The Whale is a story that will stay with me.
A beautiful, vivid tale of two cultures inevitably bound to collide. An Inuit story of how one tribe survives at the edge of the world and Norsemen out to conquer and discover new lands.
I cannot just walk away from such an awe inspiring novel. Long after the pages stopped turning I still find myself seeking documentaries and movies about these beautiful people and their cultures. I sought out to learn more of the Viking history. I have come to hold a deep respect for Jordanna Max Brodsky for not only her extensive research but how she brought her knowledge together to bring us this fictitious tale that felt so true and real.
Thank you, Jordanna Max Brodsky. For this masterpiece. I wish so much my father was still alive. He would have loved this novel.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
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